UFC Fight Night 221: Yan vs. Dvalishvili | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Daniel Cornmeat
- May 22
- 4 min read
Introduction
UFC Fight Night 221: Yan vs. Dvalishvili took place on March 11, 2023 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas — the UFC’s debut at this venue. The bantamweight main event was a high-stakes contender bout between former champion Petr Yan (No. 2) and Merab Dvalishvili (No. 3), with the winner positioned for a title shot.
Dvalishvili delivered a masterclass in relentless wrestling, earning a shutout unanimous decision (50-45 x3) over Yan. The event set the UFC record for most takedowns landed in a single card (59) and featured the rebooked Krylov vs. Spann fight from FN 220. Davey Grant produced one of the rarest submissions of the year — a reverse triangle choke.
Contents
Quick Stats
📅 Date: Saturday, March 11, 2023
📍 Venue: The Theater at Virgin Hotels, Paradise, Nevada, USA (UFC debut venue) | Att: 2,361 | Gate: $452,669
📺 Broadcast: ESPN+ (UFC on ESPN+ 79)
🏆 Main Event: Petr Yan (#2) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (#3) — Bantamweight (5 rounds)
✅ Result: Merab Dvalishvili def. Petr Yan via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) (Round 5, 5:00)
⭐ Notable: UFC record: most takedowns landed in one event (59) | Dvalishvili sets takedown attempt record | Krylov-Spann rebooked (Krylov sub R1) | Grant reverse triangle choke PoN | Petrino vs. Turkalj FotN | UFC debut at Virgin Hotels venue
The Build-Up
This was one of the most anticipated bantamweight matchups of 2023. Yan, a former champion known for his precise striking, faced Dvalishvili, whose relentless wrestling pace had overwhelmed nearly every opponent. The event was the UFC’s first at The Theater at Virgin Hotels, a smaller venue than the Apex. Nikita Krylov vs. Ryan Spann was rebooked from FN 220 after Krylov’s food poisoning withdrawal.
Main Event: Yan vs. Dvalishvili
Dvalishvili was relentless from start to finish. ‘The Machine’ pressured Yan with constant takedown attempts and cage wrestling, breaking the former champion’s rhythm and preventing him from getting into a striking groove. Yan showed moments of skill — landing calf kicks and jabs — but Dvalishvili’s pace was suffocating.
The scorecards told the full story: 50-45 across the board — a total shutout. Dvalishvili set the UFC record for most takedown attempts in a single fight and the event set the record for most takedowns landed (59). It was a definitive performance that positioned Dvalishvili as the next bantamweight title challenger.
Co-Main & Undercard Highlights
Alexander Volkov stopped Alexandr Romanov via TKO (punches) at 2:16 of round one in the co-main event. Nikita Krylov made quick work of Ryan Spann — rebooked from FN 220 — submitting him with a triangle choke at 3:38 of round one. Jonathan Martinez defeated Said Nurmagomedov by UD in a razor-thin bantamweight contest.
Davey Grant produced one of the most unusual finishes of 2023, submitting Raphael Assunção with a reverse triangle choke (PoN) — an exceptionally rare technique. Vitor Petrino vs. Anton Turkalj earned FotN in a thrilling light heavyweight war.
Full Results
Merab Dvalishvili def. Petr Yan — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 5) | 50-45 x3 | Shutout | Takedown record
Alexander Volkov def. Alexandr Romanov — TKO R1, 2:16; Nikita Krylov def. Ryan Spann — Sub (Triangle Choke) R1, 3:38; Jonathan Martinez def. Said Nurmagomedov — UD (29-28 x3); Mario Bautista def. Guido Cannetti — Sub (RNC) R1, 3:18
Vitor Petrino def. Anton Turkalj — UD R3 (FotN); Karl Williams def. Łukasz Brzeski — UD R3; Davey Grant def. Raphael Assunção — Technical Sub (Reverse Triangle Choke) (PoN); Bruno Silva def. Tyson Nam — Technical Sub (RNC) R2 (PoN); Carlston Harris def. Jared Gooden — UD R3
Bonuses & Awards
🥊 Fight of the Night: Vitor Petrino vs. Anton Turkalj ($50,000 each)
🏆 Performance of the Night: Davey Grant ($50,000) — Technical Sub (Reverse Triangle Choke) of Assunção
🏆 Performance of the Night: Bruno Gustavo da Silva ($50,000) — Technical Sub (RNC) of Tyson Nam R2
Records & Milestones
🥊 The event set the UFC record for most takedowns landed in a single card with 59 — largely driven by Dvalishvili’s relentless wrestling in the main event. Dvalishvili also set the record for most takedown attempts in a single UFC fight.
🥊 Davey Grant’s reverse triangle choke was one of the rarest submissions in UFC history. The technique requires exceptional flexibility and timing, and its application against a veteran like Assunção was remarkable.
Legacy & Impact
FN 221 was the fight that made Merab Dvalishvili a championship contender. His total domination of Yan — a former champion — was the defining performance of his career and set up his eventual title shot. Dvalishvili would go on to defeat Sean O’Malley for the bantamweight championship in 2024, making this shutout of Yan the turning point in his journey to gold.
FAQ
What takedown records were set at this event?
FN 221 set the UFC record for most takedowns landed in a single event with 59. Dvalishvili personally set the record for most takedown attempts in a single UFC fight during his five-round shutout of Yan.
What is a reverse triangle choke?
A reverse triangle choke is a variation of the triangle choke applied from top position rather than bottom. Davey Grant used this rare technique to finish Raphael Assunção, producing one of the most unusual submissions in UFC history.
References
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